Chill haze
Term from the Brauwerkstatt brewing glossary, category “Faults and hygiene”.
Explanation
Haze that only appears in cold beer and disappears when it warms up. In the cold, proteins and polyphenols bind together. It is harmless. A vigorous boil, fast chilling and cold conditioning help prevent it.
Test your knowledge
What is chill haze?
- A haze that forms in cold beer and disappears when it warms up
- An infection
- The yeast sediment in the bottle
Show answer
Correct: A haze that forms in cold beer and disappears when it warms up. It forms from proteins and tannins. It is harmless and only affects the appearance.
Frequently asked questions
My beer is hazy. Is that a problem?
Usually not, and a wheat beer is even meant to be hazy. Irish moss in the boil, fast chilling of the wort and a few weeks of cold conditioning make beer clearer. Haze that only appears when the beer is cold is chill haze. It is harmless.